Happy (and healthy, I hope) New Year

I feel like my recent blogs are more journal-esque and probably not very amusing, clever or thoughtproving. Nevertheless, as this blog is mostly for my children to read at some point down the road as well as a creative outlet for me, I guess I'm bound to document the happenings around here as uninteresting as they may seem...

Last weekend we all got the stomach flu (big groan). First Rob and Hewitt during the middle of the night on Friday (why is it that kids always throw up in the middle of the night and all over their bedding?), followed by Burke on Saturday, Tosh on Sunday and me on Monday. Being in bed all day Monday and not being able to keep anything down until about 9:00pm was a horrible flashback to my two months in bed this fall. I was feeling so paranoid that the vomiting and sickness would last, but Rob kept assuring me that it was only a 24 hour thing, and thank heaven it was. The real bummer of it all was that my brothers and their families all arrived in town that Saturday so we had to miss all the family events until mid-week when we were all healthy and I had had a chance to sterilize and re-sterilize my house to the best of my ability.

We had a lot of fun being together with my family. My favorite activities were an adult trip to the Mt. Timp temple to do sealings for some family names, a family talent show (that my bro. Todd's family rocked), a sweet game of sardines, and a visit to Temple Square. The cousins had such a great time together and are always so kind to each other. My cute 5 year-old-niece was crying when saying goodbye to all of her cousins (so sweet) and it made me sad that we all live in different states and aren't able to gather as much as I'd like to. Although, maybe the distance makes our get-togethers that much more special.

Here is our clan at Temple Square with many of us sporting our matching "D" hats (a flashback of when we went to Disneyland when I was 5 and we all wore "D" shirts my mom had made. The "D" was not for Disneyland, but for my maiden name starts with a D...). I'm on the far right (if you can't tell)-- popping out of my jacket...

On a very random note, I want to document that Tosh (who has been able to say "Burke" for several weeks) is now saying "Hewitt" but it sounds more like "Wee-wee." It is awfully cute.

Christmas Recap

In all of the excitement surrounding Christmas Day yesterday, I didn't get around to posting some photos and talking a little bit about our Christmas Eve celebration.

One of my very favorite traditions is dressing up every year to act out the Nativity on Christmas Eve. This year we had an especially yummy turkey dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Pete's house with Rob's sister's family and then picked characters and put on costumes. All that are present participate in the Nativity and then we sing carols (such a treat to have married into a very musical and talented family) before diving into dessert.

I am noticing that every year Hewitt is especially happy to take part (and makes the cutest shepherd ever):


Burke was quite serious during the production, but eventually cracked a smile...
Here is my handsome Wise Man (I just love my mother-in-law's costumes) with "Joseph":

Tosh was an especially wiggly Baby Jesus (as pictured here with cousin "Mary") and was soon replaced by a Cabbage Patch doll...
I played a Wise Man, but have certainly spent a lot of time thinking about Mary this year and what she must have been feeling and thinking about the great responsibility (and physical burden) placed upon her.
We had a such a wonderful and special Christmas. I love this time of year as I feel that I personally take more time to think (and teach my children) about the Savior and his miraculous birth, life, and resurrection. I hope that the spirit and peace of this season can continue with all of us throughout the coming year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

What Santa brought us...

Yes, I've been crying all morning...Merry Christmas.

A holiday first

So I made the realization today that I have completed all of my Christmas shopping this year without EVER personally stepping foot in a store! Seriously, not one store. This was made possible due to the following:

1. Amazon.com. They have free shipping on so many items and I love that Rob and I can shop for the kids together (without getting a babysitter) and it is delivered right to our front door.

2. My parents, who were willing to pick up a rather large item for our boys in my Dad's truck. Again, this was delivered directly to our home one evening after the kids were in bed (thanks, Dad).

3. My decision to forego doing "neighborhood" Christmas gifts this year. I'm going to give Valentine gifts instead. Why not? I send out Valentines instead of Christmas cards and figure that my neighbors may enjoy knowing that they are cared for and loved at other times of the year besides Christmas.

4. Some friends that held a holiday boutique at my next door neighbor's house. Can't get much more convenient than walking next door to do some shopping.

5. A neighborhood boy selling items door to door for a school fundraiser. Okay, this is the most convenient and it's for a good cause, right?

6. Other on-line retailers that ship directly to my family members so I don't have to wrap the gift or go to the post office (a definite plus).

7. My husband, who works across the street from Walmart and was able to pick up some "last minute" stocking stuffer items. This saves making an extra trip and let's face it, I'm not a fan of shopping in general much less at Walmart in December.

All the talk I hear about nasty holiday traffic, rude shoppers and children asking for everything they see in the store--avoided completely. I doubt this will ever happen again, but it did make for a much more relaxed and simplified December.

Baby Pete

We had our ultrasound yesterday. Everything looks great with the baby and the tear that caused my hemorrhage back in week 12 has completely healed!

So, we were able to get a couple of profile photos which leaves me these last few days before Christmas to continue to speculate...

is it a boy or a girl?

So, what do you think? (see poll on side bar and cast your vote if you wish)

Christmas Tag

I haven't gotten around to doing some recent "tags" lately, but thought that I would respond to this one...tis the season after all.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, depending on the shape and size of the gift. Growing up, my oldest brother would wrap everything in the exact shape as the actual gift so it was completely obvious what the present was. It was pretty funny, but I'd rather be surprised, thanks.

2. Real tree or artificial? I prefer real, but my husband is much too frugal to buy a real tree every year (it took some convincing that we actually needed a tree at all--the compromise was to get a fakie).

3. When do you put up the tree? Early December--never in November.

4. When do you take the tree down? No set time, but before New Year's Day.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A"Madame Alexander" baby doll.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My parents--they seem to already have everything.

8. Easiest person/people to buy for? My boys.

9. Do you have a nativity set? Yes! I have a glass nativity set from Norway (it is probably one of my most treasured possessions), a darling set from South Africa that my parents gave me, and a Fisher-Price set that my children LOVE.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I started doing Valentines instead of Christmas cards about 5 years ago...one less thing to think about it December. But, yes I do mail them.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I honestly can't think of anything...

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "It's a Wonderful Life."

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Early to mid December--and 90% of it is online!

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I love the big dinners (we usually have turkey on Christmas Eve and ham on Christmas Day). I also enjoy all the yummy treats, but wish I didn't!

16. Lights on the tree? Yes.

17. Favorite Christmas song? The First Noel and White Christmas (but I love them all).

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? There's no place like home on Christmas morning.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes.

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas Morning. Maybe jammies on Christmas Eve though.

21. Most annoying thing about this time of year? When I can't find what I want online (or when the price suddenly goes up in December)--such is the life of a procrastinator.

22. Favorite ornament theme or color? Our tree is a collaboration of all sorts of things, but I am partial to snowmen and so you will find plenty of them on my tree. I also have some special ornaments from my childhood and love homemade things from my kids.

23. What do you want for Christmas this year? Umm, a little GIRL! (Seriously, don't get me wrong though, I will be thrilled with a little boy).

Thanks for the tag (Laundry Queen). Consider yourself tagged if you would like to play too.

Is it December already?

So I'm having a hard time getting back into blogging mode (my focus still aimed at getting back into the daily routine)... My boys have been sick this past week with Fifth's disease (fever, cold and rash) and now a stomach bug--never fun. The boys were all so healthy while I was so sick which was a huge blessing. Hopefully we will all be feeling healthy soon so we can actually all leave the house together again as a family (what a concept!).

So, I just realized by looking at my camera that I have not taken one photo since the beginning of October. My sis-in-law took this darling photo of my "baby" at a family dinner I missed a while back and I think it is a must-post (thanks Camera Queen). Tosh looks so old to me here (even with the ice cream around his mouth). I guess I need to get out of the habit of referring to him as "the baby." Tosh is so fun right now. He repeats almost everything we ask him to (something our other two boys didn't do at this age) and he is making tons of animal sounds, car sound effects, etc. He has learned to jump up and down and tries to jump off of everything (yes, the couch, the bed, etc.). He has also taken to trying to say and do everything that Hewitt does. Here is the happy and handsome handful:I've gotten lots of questions about the gender of this baby and whether I've had the ultrasound yet. Well, my ultrasound is next week and we've decided to have the technician write the gender down in a card that we will seal and open as a family on Christmas morning! I believe that both sets of grandparents will be joining us for Christmas breakfast and for the occasion. I can tell you that I am more excited for Christmas this year than any other of my life. Our boys are so excited to find out if they are getting another brother or a sister...and I can't think of a better Christmas gift.